Bev leaves a legacy to Ategi in her will

Bev is one of our many supporters. In this Q&A, Bev tells us why she has chosen to leave us a gift in her will. 

Can you tell us a little bit about when and how you became involved with Ategi?

I spent 30 years working in social care before I left full-time work in November 2013. During that time, I worked with many vulnerable adults, young people and children but I have fond memories of working with vulnerable adults particularly those with Learning Disabilities. In the early part of my career, I worked as a Welfare Benefits Advisor and had a lot of job satisfaction maximising people’s incomes as it gave them more choices and supported them to live in a community of their choice. My work experiences were one of the things that attracted me to Ategi who works extensively with vulnerable adults.

I was looking for a board position in the summer of 2022. It was something I had done several times before with my first board appointment being in the early 1980’s when I was a tenant representative for a Welsh Housing Association. In recent years I have been a chair of a Cardiff charity and been on the board of a housing association so felt I had the right level of experience to support the work of the organisation.

What does the work that Ategi does mean to you?

I think every person has the right to live the best life that they can but it has to be acknowledged that some adults may need additional support to do this. For me, this is the essence of Ategi. When support works well then I think you can see another human being blossom. However, I always think there is more that can be done, particularly assisting service users and other stakeholders to participate in the work of the organisation.

What sort of service would you like to see Ategi providing in the future?

Working with care leavers might be a group of vulnerable adults to whom Ategi could offer support. Since the advent of The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, a lot has changed for care leavers but there are still gaps in services, particularly in preparation for adulthood and support to live successfully in a community of their choice. This is potentially a challenging area but one that is desperately needed.

Another group that Local Authorities have recognised as needing support is vulnerable adults. These are people who do not fit into the established services but feature prominently in homelessness services particularly short-term accommodation providers like hostels.

What difference could this service make to future generations?

I think again it's about establishing a home in a safe community. We all strive to do this and most are fortunate to have a broad range of choices. Everyone wants to make a success of their life and this includes having a dwelling which is to an individual’s taste and that is manageable both in terms of affordability and daily living. Most of us at some point in our lives struggle with daily life. This can be about lack of money but, other difficulties too can become overwhelming. We all seek support at some point either from family or support agencies. Some people may need a lot of support during the whole of their adult lives and there must be provision so that they can live fulfilling lives.

Why have you decided to pledge a gift in your will to Ategi?

Unfortunately, I have no close family, so I made the decision several years ago to make a substantial gift in my will to a charity. As I’ve supported vulnerable adults for many years, worked for charities and supported their work via board positions, this made good sense. There is never enough funding to provide all the services that an organisation wants to do be able to, particularly around participation, work and leisure. I really feel that a substantial donation could be put to good use.

More reasons to get involved...

Gifts in wills have an incredible power to shape the future of many charities. They generate over £3 billion annually for charitable causes, showcasing the immense potential of legacy giving. While 74% of us regularly contribute to charities during our lifetimes, a remarkable 40% of people are willing to leave a small percentage of their estate to a charity they care about after ensuring their loved ones are taken care of.

It's important to remember that a gift to charity in your will doesn't have to be a substantial amount; even a modest contribution can create a profound ripple effect in the lives of those in need.

If you're interested in learning more about leaving a gift to Ategi in your will please don't hesitate to reach out to SheleaghL@ategi.co.uk. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, can make a world of difference.

Find out more about leaving a gift in your will

"Unfortunately, I have no close family, so I made the decision several years ago to make a substantial gift in my will to a charity. As I’ve supported vulnerable adults for many years, worked for charities and supported their work via board positions, this made good sense." Bev